Avian Anatomy

Question 1

What gland is responsible for from water proofing and insulating feathers?

Answer 1

Uropygial gland or preen gland

Question 2

In some species the beak is covered by this fleshy membrane that is also used for sexing.

Answer 2

Cere

Question 3

What are considered the “ornament” features?

Answer 3

Snood: Turkey

Wattles and comb: Chicken

Question 4

What are the tracts that feathers are found in and what is the name of the featherless areas?

Answer 4

Pterylae - Feather tracks

Apteria - non feather areas

Question 5

What are the important features of the down feathers and the contour feathers?

Answer 5

Contour feathers cover the down feathers and define contour of body and wings.
Down feathers are important for heating and insulation

Question 6

What are the names for the wing feathers and the tail feathers and what is their function?

Answer 6

Remiges and retrices.

Function: specialized contour feathers for flight.

Question 7

What is the name of the new feathers that have blood vessels in the shaft and can bleed if damaged?

Answer 7

Pin/blood feathers

Question 8

When do the blood vessels retract in the feather?

Answer 8

When feather is at full length

Question 9

What is the attachment site for the pectoral muscles and makes up the majority of the ventral body wall?

Answer 9

Keel bone

Question 10

What bone has calcium reserves for egg production?

Answer 10

Medullary (trabecular) bone.

Question 11

What structure permits the movement of both the maxilla and mandible?

Answer 11

Jugal or quadrojugal arch

Question 12

What sight on the ventral body wall is used for bone marrow sampling, landmark for pectoral injections and assessing body condition?

Answer 12

The Keel Bone

Question 13

The clavicle is fused at the midline to form what structure?

Answer 13

Furcula also called the wish bone

Question 14

Which bone is used for IO catheterization?

Answer 14

Ulnar bone

Question 15

What are the 2 carpal bones?

Answer 15

Radial and ulna

Question 16

How many metacarpal bones are found in avians?

Answer 16

3 metacarpals and corresponding digits

Question 17

What is the name and function of the triangular fold running from the shoulder to the carpus?

Answer 17

Called Propatagium and it provides an aerodynamic lift

Question 18

These processes are part of the ribs directed caudodorsally and overlap the next rib which provide attachment sites for muscles and ligaments to strengthen thoracic wall.

Answer 18

Uncinate processes

Question 19

The pectoral girdle consist of what three bones?

Answer 19

Clavicles, coracoids and scapula

Question 20

What bone of the pectoral girdle acts as a brace against the up and down strokes of the wings?

Answer 20

Coracoid bone

Question 21

The carpometacarpus is made up of what fused bones?

Answer 21

Carpal and metacarpal bones

Question 22

What fused bones make up the Tibiotarsus?

Answer 22

Tibia with proximal tarsals

Question 23

What fused bones make up the Tarsometatarsus?

Answer 23

Distal tarsals and metatarsus.

Question 24

What mechanism allows for perching?

Answer 24

Stay apparatus - small projections from digital flexor tendons interdigitate with invaginations on tendons tendon sheaths of neighboring muscles.